Nairobi City County Governor Johnson Sakaja has waived parking fees on private motorists operating on Saturdays.
In a gazette notice dated December 1, Nairobi County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Finance and Economic Planning Charles Kerich announced that the waiver will be valid until the end of the 2023/2024 financial year.
“In exercise of the powers conferred by section 5 (2) of the Nairobi City County Tax Administration Act 2013, the CECM for Finance and Economic Planning in concurrence with the Governor, Nairobi City County, waives parking fees for all private motorist in Nairobi on Saturdays until 30th June 2024,” read the notice.
Previously, Sakaja allowed free parking around Mosques on Fridays between 12:00 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. and all days on Saturdays when parking around churches.
Further, Nairobi residents enjoy free parking on Sundays and public holidays.
Nairobi Finance Act Parking Fees
To begin with, the Act saw levies for individuals with saloon cars rise to Ksh.300 at on-street parking zones across the city from Ksh200.
On the other hand, Vans and pick-ups days parking fees was increased from Ksh. 200 to Ksh.500 while lorries and minibuses with over 5 tonnes are to Ksh.1,000.
Fees on lorries weighing above 5 tonnes increased from Ksh1,000 to Ksh3,000, while non-digital taxis are charged Ksh5,000 to park monthly.
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All the charges apply to Zone I parking, which include Nairobi CBD, Kijabe Street, Westlands, Upper Hill, Community, Ngara, Highridge, Industrial Area, Gigiri, Kilimani, Yaya Center, Milimani, Hurlingham, Lavington, Karen, Eastleigh, Muthaiga, Gikomba and Nairobi West.
With the measures, the county government under the stewardship of Sakaja set its sight on a revenue generation target of Ksh 19 billion.
Sakaja Free Parking Near Mosques
On April 19, Sakaja announced that the county government would allow free parking near mosques in Nairobi every Friday.
Additionally, the governor said the free parking would run between 12:00pm and 2:30pm to allow Muslims to pray without obstacles.
“I want to announce and am happy I have the entire assembly here, Friday from 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm no parking fee near any mosque in Nairobi,” Sakaja said.
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However, Sakaja cautioned non-Muslim members of the public against taking advantage of the free parking opportunity.
He explained that the county administration will work with the mosque leaders to ensure it was done properly.
“We accept those that are coming to the mosque to be allowed and I will bring this to the finance act so as to be done legally so we can allow our brothers and sisters go to mosque and pray without any obstacles, kindly no clamping at that time!” He added.
Furthermore, governor Sakaja promised that no business stalls will be built around mosques especially Jamia Mosque, since they are a holy place of worship.
